Whether it is your lawn, flower bed, or garden, you have probably at some point noticed weeds and tried to pull them out. Pulling weeds is not a desirable task and can be very difficult to do. But if you let the weeds stay, not only will your lawn or garden not look as nice, but the weeds will also steal all the nutrients from the soil. An effective and easy way to get rid of weeds fast is to use a weed killer. In this article, I will be going over the best weed killer on the market, the top ten best weed killers, different types of weed killer, reasons why you should try weed killer, things to consider, and different features weed killer has. Hopefully this article helps you find a weed killer that fits your needs.
The Best Weed Killer for Your Yard
In the chart below, you will find our top 10 rated weed killer options to use in your yard. For a more in-depth review of each model, please click on "Read Review."
Product Image | Product Name | Rating | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ortho GroundClear Vegetation Killer Concentrate | 4.3 out of 5 | |
 | Southern Ag Crossbow Specialty Herbicide | 4.5 out of 5 | |
 | Compare-N-Save Concentrate Grass and Weed Killer | 4.2 out of 5 | |
 | Liquid Harvest Lazer Blue Concentrated Spray | 4.6 out of 5 | |
 | Roundup Pro Weed Killer | 4.5 out of 5 | |
 | PBI/Gordon 652400 Speed Zone Lawn Weed Killer | 4.3 out of 5 | |
 | Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer | 4.4 out of 5 | |
 | RM43 Total Vegetation Control | 4.2 out of 5 | |
 | Hi-Yield Killzall Weed and Grass Killer | 4.1 out of 5 | |
 | Fertilome Weed Killer | 4.4 out of 5 |
Top Ten Rated Weed Killers of 2018
- Ortho GroundClear Vegetation Killer Concentrate
- Southern Ag Crossbow Specialty Herbicide
- Compare-N-Save Concentrate Grass and Weed Killer
- Liquid Harvest Lazer Blue Concentrated Spray Pattern Indicator
- Roundup Pro Weed Killer
- PBI/Gordon 652400 Speed Zone Lawn Weed Killer
- Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer
- RM43 Total Vegetation Control
- Hi-Yield Killzall Weed and Grass Killer
- Fertilome Weed Killer
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Different Types of Weed Killer
It may seem as though all weed killer brands are the same. After all, they all have the same purpose, which is to kill weeds. But there are actually many different types of weed killers on the market that have different levels of effectiveness. Let's take a look at those types here.
Residual Weed Killers
Residual weed killers are made to poison the soil, killing any plants within the treated area. This type of weed killer prevents seed germination as well as photosynthesis. Sometimes this weed killer can remain in the soil for months or even years. Therefore, you should not apply it to sites with edible plants. You should also be cautious when using this weed killer around shrubs and flowers. Since this type of weed killer is so powerful to the soil, many of them have been banned unless it is very necessary to use. It is not recommended to plant anything else in the area for some time after using these weed killers.
Contact Weed Killers
If you are wanting to get rid of only a small section of weeds, the contact weed killer may be what you are looking for. Fast acting and the most commonly used type, this type of weed killer kills only the plants or plant parts that you want killed. There are two different types of contact weed killers: non-selective and selective. Selective weed killers work best on annual weeds. It does not actually kill the root systems, but instead it weakens the plants. The nice thing about selective weed killer is that it won't kill other plants in your lawn. It only kills the weeds that you are trying to kill. So if you apply this type of weed killer on an entire lawn, it would not kill the grass. Non-selective types, on the other hand, will kill anything it is applied onto and it is ideal for clearing areas of ground.
Systemic Weed Killers
Systemic weed killers are taken up by the leaves and then transported to the remainder of the plant, including its roots. It works by reducing the amount of protein and chlorophyll in the plants. With this type of weed killer, it could take up to two weeks before plants are completely destroyed. Once again, this type of weed killer can be applied on plants and will only kill the weeds. You don't have to worry about this type of weed killer killing your grass or plants.
Granular
In addition to those three groups of weed killer, there are also two basic types: granular and liquid. Granular weed killer, also called weed killer pellets, is a great option for mixing with fertilizer. All you do is pour some onto the ground where the weeds are.
Liquid
Liquid weed killer is made to be sprayed onto the weeds instead of getting sprinkled onto the soil like granular weed killer. You have to be careful not to spray your plants with this weed killer, because your plants may die also, depending on which type you bought.
Advantages/ Reasons for Buying
There are many reasons why weed killer should be used in your lawn, garden, or flower beds. Obviously, the main purpose of weed killer is to kill the weeds in your yard. Here are the top three reasons why you should try using weed killer.
- Weed Killer Keeps Your Lawn Looking Nice - Weeds can take away the beauty of your lawn or flower bed. Whether the weeds are tall or short, weeds usually do not have a pleasant look. Weed killer will kill the weeds and bring back your beautiful green lawn.
- Weeds Steal Nutrients, Sunlight, and Water - Even if the weeds growing in your yard don't look terrible, they still steal nutrients, sunlight, and water from your plants. This results in weak plants that won't thrive. Weed killer will help kill the weeds so that your plants can thrive again.
- Weed Killer Is Quick and Easy to Use - Unlike the process of pulling weeds, weed killer is as easy as spraying it onto the weeds. You won't have to spend hours on your hands and knees anymore. Just be careful that the weed killer doesn't get onto your plants.
Considerations When Buying
Before you pick out a weed killer, you'll need to ask yourself a few questions. To help you get started, I've included a list of questions to ask yourself when buying weed killer.
- What Weeds Do You Have? Consider what type of weeds are growing in your lawn or garden. Are they annuals? Are they perennials? Even if you don't know what their exact name is, by identifying what weeds are growing you'll be able to buy the right product. You may not even have to buy weed killer. Both grass and broad leaf annuals will die at the end of the season. If they can be stopped from flowering and reseeding, they can be prevented from reappearing.
- Which Type Do You Need? This question is similar to the first one because you have to understand what weeds are growing and what plants are growing around them. If the weeds are growing in between cracks or somewhere else like that, you may want residual weed killer. This is because residual weed killer kills other plants, so if plants are not near the weeds it is fine to use this type. If plants are near the leaves, systemic weed killer may work the best. If you are wanting natural weed killer, check out some of the DIY weed killer recipes that I've included in this article.
- How Many Weeds Do You Have? This is another important question to ask yourself, because then you can decide if you need weed killer or if you can pull the weeds out yourself. If there is only a few weeds, you can probably pull them by hand. You may also want to pull the weeds by hand if they are in a garden, since weed killer can damage the vegetables. But if there is a whole lawn full of weeds, it is best to use a weed killer. Weed killer will also prevent the weeds from reappearing quickly, which saves you from having to continuously pull weeds.
Pros
Cons
Features
While each type of weed killer has their own unique features, here are a few common features that all weed killers have.
- They Are Easy to Use - Like I mentioned earlier, weed killer is so much easier to use than pulling weeds.
- Very Effective - Weed killers are very effective. Some kill weeds within a few days, while others kill weeds in a couple weeks.
- A Variety of Options Available - There are a lot of options available, so if one weed killer doesn't fit your needs there are many other weed killers to try.
- Some Types Don't Kill Other Plants - What's nice about some types of weed killer is that they don't kill other plants. Note that some weed killers do kill other plants, but a lot don't.
Home Remedies for Weeds
If you are wanting to use a natural weed killer, you may be interested in making your own homemade weed killer. What's nice about homemade weedkiller is that they do not contain harmful chemicals that could be dangerous to other plants or even your pets. Here are the best homemade weed killer options for you to try.
Newspaper
When you think of weed killer, you probably think of the liquid form that you spray onto weeds. One weed control method you may not think of is everyday life items, including newspapers. As soon as you are done reading the newspaper, lay it down where weeds are growing and put some mulch over it. This will prevent weeds from shooting up, and it is chemical free.
Boiling Water
Once again, this weed killer is something that you can easily make. Simply take a pot of water, boil it, and pour it onto the weeds. Try not to let the boiling water splash onto your plants. If the weeds re-appear, apply more boiling water.
Lemon Juice
If you happen to have a lemon tree, you may want to use the lemons for creating a natural weed killer. A bottle of ReaLemon also works well if you don't have a lemon tree but don't want to buy lemons from the store. For a stronger weed killer, mix lemon juice with acidic vinegar. Acidic vinegar sold at garden stores or nurseries is stronger than supermarket options. Whether you use the acidic vinegar mixture or plain lemon juice itself, this natural weed killer will dry up the weeds in just a couple of days.
Homemade Weed Killer Recipe
If none of these home remedies for weeds work, it may be time to try a homemade weed killer recipe. It will be very similar to chemical weed killer, but it is natural. What you'll need is a gallon of vinegar, a cup of salt or borax, and a tablespoon of dish soap. To apply, use a spray bottle where you can control the nozzle for either a spray or stream. If it’s a small area, use the stream option; if weeds are everywhere, use the spray. Be careful when using it, because it can kill your plants and grass too. This method works best on a sunny day, as the natural acid will burn the plant and the salt will shrivel it up by sundown. The dish soap will help the mixture stick to the weeds.
Our Top Pick for the Best Weed Killer
Our top pick for the best weed killer is the Ortho GroundClear Vegetation Killer Concentrate.
Recommended Best Sellers
- KILLS WEEDS AND GRASSES: use on driveways and walkways, and around fences, trees, flower beds, shrubs and other areas in your yard
- KILLS THE ROOT: visible results as fast as 3 hours – replant new flowers, trees and shrubs the same weekend
- RAINFAST: rainfall or watering 15 minutes after application will not wash away effectiveness
- Use Ortho WeedClear Weed Killer for Lawns with Comfort Wand to kill weeds down to the root, without harming your lawn (when used as directed); you'll see visible results in hours
- KILLS WEEDS: This lawn weed killer kills over 250 common weeds, including dandelions, clover, poison ivy, chickweed, and dollarweed (see product label for complete weed list)
- LAWN FRIENDLY: It contains three proven ingredients that target common lawn weeds, so it won’t harm your grass (when used as directed)
- KILLS WEEDS AND GRASSES: Use on driveways and walkways, and around fences, trees, flower beds, shrubs and other listed areas
- ACCUSHOT SPRAYER: Includes continuous power sprayer with extendable wand
- KILLS THE ROOT: Visible results as fast as 3 hours — replant new flowers, trees and shrubs the same weekend
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you understand more about weed killer and how it works. It is a much more efficient than pulling weeds, and it is very easy to use. In this article I went over the top ten best weed killers, as well as a simple buying guide to help you choose the best weed killer for you. I hope you will now be able to easily get rid of your weeds without too much work.
Last update on 2023-10-01 at 01:16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API